The Greater Halifax Partnership is the lead economic development organization for Halifax.

Tuesday, March 06, 2012

Growing in more ways than one

By Mike MacKenzie

Several proposed development projects and Halifax planning initiatives made the headlines last week. In case you missed it, here are some of the stories that show how Halifax is growing – in more ways than one.

Halifax Regional Municipality has begun the initial phase of a five-year review for the city’s Regional Plan. According to Andy Fillmore, Project Manager - Urban Design, developers in the city currently face policy inconsistencies that can impede projects from taking hold. Fillmore says the review, which may include an update of the outdated policies, will revitalize downtown development and make it easier for Halifax to handle the expected growth resulting from the shipbuilding contract and offshore exploration.

Porter’s Lake Construction Boom

Porter’s Lake may soon see a huge construction boom of its own. Plans have been announced to build more than 600 homes over the next ten years in a massive project that’s expected to cost $160M. Seven Lakes Development, the group spearheading the project, says that while the development is large in scope they hope to build sustainable ‘low-impact’ homes that will leave the majority of the land undisturbed. They also plan to incorporate the existing community into the review process in an attempt to minimize the potential invasiveness of such a large project. Seven Lakes hopes that a development agreement can be reached in the fall, with construction beginning early next year.

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Author: Mike MacKenzie

Mike is the Communications and Marketing Assistant with Greater Halifax Partnership, currently working as a Bachelor of Public Relations co-op student. A lover of all things communications and strategy related, Mike is often known to spend his free time analyzing the latest-and-greatest PR/advertising campaigns. As a relative newbie to the Halifax scene, he can also be seen strolling the streets of downtown looking for the next cool thing that the city has to offer.

Several proposed development projects and Halifax planning initiatives made the headlines last week. In case you missed it, here are some of the stories that show how Halifax is growing – in more ways than one.

Halifax Regional Municipality has begun the initial phase of a five-year review for the city’s Regional Plan. According to Andy Fillmore, Project Manager for HRMbyDesign, developers in the city currently face policy inconsistencies that can impede projects from taking hold. Fillmore says the review, which may include an update of the outdated policies, will revitalize downtown development and make it easier for Halifax to handle the expected growth resulting from the shipbuilding contract and offshore exploration.

Porter’s Lake Construction Boom

Porter’s Lake may soon see a huge construction boom of its own. Plans have been announced to build more than 600 homes over the next ten years in a massive project that’s expected to cost $160M. Seven Lakes Development, the group spearheading the project, says that while the development is large in scope they hope to build sustainable ‘low-impact’ homes that will leave the majority of the land undisturbed. They also plan to incorporate the existing community into the review process in an attempt to minimize the potential invasiveness of such a large project. Seven Lakes hopes that a development agreement can be reached in the fall, with construction beginning early next year.

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